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The Fast-Care Industry
MARGOLIS, RICHARD J.
States of the Union THE FAST-CARE INDUSTRY BY RICHARD J. MARGOUS The business of nursing homes today is chiefly business, and it's been booming. Gross revenues in 1985 came to $35 billion,...
...That we now refer to these institutions collectively as "the adult care industry" suggests the extent to which they have been accepted as a branch of commerce...
...Bed patients are not pro vided with padding between skin surfaces...
...Four of 5 accidents involving bodily injury to the patients were not reported to the family, next of kin or legal guardian...
...in proprietary homes the philosophy is reversed...
...Given its 1985 revenues approaching $1.7 billion, Beverly is clearly the McDonald's of our fast-care chains, but some of its competitors are moving up rapidly...
...they did not have the time...
...Instead of upgrading services they increase dividends to stockholders...
...Twenty-three per cent of Beverly-controlled homes fell in the "worse" category, compared with 16 per cent of nursing homes statewide...
...Corporate care, like corporate control, can appear bafflingly remote...
...All this has been made possible by Medicaid, with its guaranteed subsidies, and by old-age demographics, with its guaranteed market...
...I told them that this was the people's home and that I would not be a part of making it a business...
...Although Beverly's heaviest concentration is in the South, it also controls some 9,000 nursing home beds in California and nearly 5,000 in Michigan, or about 8 per cent of thetotal in each state...
...The astonishing growth of fast-care chains does not appear to have improved conditions in nursing homes...
...In 1963, the year the corporation opened for business, it owned a mere three nursing homes with 245 residents...
...Moser's reply was to resign her position...
...Here are just a few: • "A patient with a feeding tube was not receiving adequate oral care as evidenced by parched lips and tongue and oral residue...
...The oligopoly, in fact, may already have arrived...
...She told a Senate committee what happened when her employer sold out to a regional chain that owned 14 other nursing homes...
...A total of 119 man-hours per day is not sufficient supportive personnel for a 360-bed facility, as evidenced by the lack of acceptable sanitation practices and the poor nutritional care rendered...
...In general, however, philanthropic nursing homes deliver better care than do commercial ones, and for an obvious reason...
...The chains, to be sure, take a more sanguine view of the matter...
...We can sense the latter approach at work in the testimony of Judy Moser, a former nursing home director in Madisonville, Tennessee...
...so is the container manufacturer Owens-Illinois, whose subsidiary—the Health Retirement Corporation of America—has quickly become the nation's seventh largest investorowned nursing home chain...
...But that expression of pride, it turns out, may not be an entirely appropriate response—notin Michigan, at any rate, where Beverly's behavior has been closely scrutinized by the Department of Public Health and by labor unions trying to organize the company's workers...
...Beverly Enterprises in particular has been at pains to emphasize this putative connection between human welfare and corporate profits...
...How much commitment, how many resources, shall we invest in the peculiar institutions to which we deliver up our aged loved ones, to which we ourselves are all too likely some day to be consigned...
...The notations do not make pleasant reading...
...Commerce supplies one answer, compassion another...
...Beverly is the larger ofthetwo, and its story is instructive...
...A1982 state-sponsored pilot project ranked nursing homes there on a three-step scale: better, average and worse...
...Avon Products and the Marriott Corporation are two recent entries...
...The Michigan experience with Beverly Enterprises is hardly reassuring...
...Fewer than one-quarter of the nation's nursing homes currently are operated by philanthropic organizations or by public agencies...
...Fourteen bedside stands in Units A and ? failed to contain a complete set of oral care equipment such as brush and paste...
...often it discourages traditional forms of community participation and thus deprives residents of protections once gained from citizen vigilance...
...In the "better" category, 22 per cent of Michigan's nursing homes but only 13 per cent of Beverly's met the study's standards...
...What the chains usually do with their profits is of no use to either the residents or the general public...
...chains in the health business solely for profit...
...The chains control an estimated two-fifths of the total market...
...In Texas it owns lOper cent of themarket, in Georgia 11 per cent and in Arkansas a whopping 25 per cent...
...Seventy-eight per cent are run for profit, and a growing proportion of these consists of large, national chains—the caregiving equivalents of Sears and McDonald's...
...The evidence, culled from reports of state Public Health inspectors, suggested that "care deteriorated when Beverly Enterprises took over homes in the state.' Excerpts from the notebooks of inspectors who investigated Beverly nursing homes about a year after they were acquired from Provincial House revealed heavier patterns of patient neglect...
...in many communities they enjoy virtual monopolies...
...The AFL-CIO analysis went further still...
...These bright prospects have begun to attract companies with no previous experience in health care...
...It is our dedication to the delivery of quality healthcare and our immense concern for the well-being of the elderly," the corporation has told its shareholders, "that has built our company into the most respected in its field today...
...To name a few 1985 winners: Hillhaven took in $803 million, Manor Care $454 million, Care Enterprises $239 million, and the Forum Group $177 million...
...In 1985 the top 50 chains took in $5 billion, and more than half of that went to just two corporations, a pair of West Coast behemoths known as Beverly Enterprises and the Hillhaven Corporation...
...It acquired 7,500 additional beds in 1985 alone...
...We do it better than anyone else...
...In every case, revenues and profits were substantially higher than in the previous year...
...For openers, the staff-patient ratio jumped from 1:10 to 1:13, and "all the good aides started quitting, because they could not provide the care that was needed...
...Gross revenues in 1985 came to $35 billion, almost triple what they were only a decade ago...
...Among other things it examined what happened to the quality of care in 17 homes that Beverly had acquired in 1981 from a smaller company named Provincial House...
...They argue that economies of scale and other corporate efficiencies actually improve the quality of care, that what is good for business is also good for residents...
...Accounts have largely eclipsed accountability...
...There are such things as chain-linked deficiencies, chief among them being a tendency to maximize profits at the expense of services...
...For most of us now it may be easier to buy stock in a nursing home corporation than to discover what goes on in one of its facilities...
...It is true that not all fast-care facilities are obsessed by profits, just as not all charitable homes are guided by altruism...
...Three patients had contractures of the hands, with one nail grown in flesh and one with skin breakdown from nails...
...Other patients were observed with sticky saliva stringed between their teeth...
...The AFLCIOc ould not have been far off the mark when, in a 1984 monograph on corporate takeovers, it concluded that the United States was "well down the road to becoming the only country in the world with a health care system dominated by large, corporate...
...That the "McDonald's-ization" of the nursing home system may be dangerous to society's health seems implicit in our apparent inability to intervene...
...One day, remembered Moser, her bosses called a staff meeting: "They said they knew how to make money, and they were in it for the money, and that in order to make money they would have to cut the staffing, so they were going to cut it again, and the care was going to go down even worse...
...The dollar deluge has whetted Wall Street's appetite, and may also have dulled the public's sensibilities...
...For the present, at least, commerce is alone at the lectern...
...By the year 2000, say Wall Street analysts, they will have increased their market share to at least 60 per cent, a degree of concentration approaching oligopoly...
...instead of building new facilities they swallow up existing ones, thereby adding few beds to the nation's inadequate pool...
...It is a question of ends and means: In philanthropic enterprises, care is the end and money is the means...
...What shall we do with these wornout individuals who unaccountably and inconveniently have outlived their economic usefulness...
...We can all continue to take pride in what we do...
...At present it operates over 1,000 homes with 115,000 beds...
...At bottom it may reflect the limits of commerce, and of corporate philosophy, in helping to make life easier for the oldest and frailest among us...
...For the fast-care chains rising life expectancies spell rising dollar expectations, but for the rest of society they spell something else—a constantly growing, freshly enfeebled cohort of elders, and the obligations they engender...
Vol. 70 • January 1987 • No. 1


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Plan B – ill Manors
Posted on March 25, 2012	by ManeatingCow23
Plan B–otherwise known as the UK Eminem because of his flow, graphic storytelling, and well, because he's white–came out with an outstanding debut album in 2006 called 'Who Needs Actions When You Got Words' and then something interesting happened. His second album, called 'The Defamation of Strickland Banks', was an old school soul album made as a soundtrack for a film that did amazingly well in the UK, which really threw all the old fans for a loop, myself included, because it sounded nothing like his hip-hop stuff. Reading up on the backstory behind the album I guess it was originally suppose to be a double album with a hip-hop heavy second disc telling the story of his alter-ego Strickland Banks, but his label made it clear that the soul album did so well for them financially that they no longer had any interest in supporting his original sound. He ended up releasing that album, 'The Ballad of Belmarsh' independently, which means I'm going to need to do some internet searches later today to find this.
Well, Plan B is officially back with a new album called 'ill Manors', which is about the Occupy movement in the UK. The song is really catchy and a great return for one of my favorite UK rappers.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Whether you are a fan of the lottery, or simply curious about it, there are some things you should know before you play. You can find out more about the game, its origins, and its odds of winning. You can also learn about multistate lotteries and scams.
Probably the most popular form of gambling worldwide, lotteries have been used for centuries. Today, they are used to raise funds for public projects and charities.
Lotteries were originally used to assign property rights and settle legal disputes. In the ancient world, they were also used to finance major government projects. The proceeds from lottery sales were used to finance public works projects, such as roads, towns, and wars.
The oldest recorded lottery in Europe was held during the reign of Roman Emperor Augustus. Lotteries were also used to fortify urban structures, such as the walls of Rome. In Italy, the Golden Ambrosian Republic organized a lottery in 1449 to finance the war against Venice.
Lotteries evolved over the centuries, from simple raffles to more complex games. In 17th century Europe, the state of England introduced a lottery in 1694, and it became a national institution. It was deemed a good alternative to taxes.
Multistate lotteries
Across the United States, millions of people buy lottery tickets in multistate lotteries. These games include Mega Millions and Powerball. In addition to the jackpots, these games offer prize money in the form of cash or securities.
Many states are also dedicating lottery proceeds to public education. Some states will put the rest of their lottery revenue in the general fund, while others will use it to address gambling addiction. The remaining funds are usually used for other educational purposes.
Several states offer state-sponsored lotteries, including California, Georgia, Illinois, and New York. The state-backed lotteries have a heavy hand in the operation of the games. The companies that run these lotteries are trying to develop more enhanced partnerships with states.
The Multi-State Lottery Association (MSLA) is a nonprofit organization composed of the executive directors of state lotteries. This organization facilitates the operation of MegaMillions and Powerball.
Odds of winning
Trying to find the odds of winning the lottery can be a bit tricky. While there are many sources that talk about the odds, you can't always count on them to tell you the right answer. However, there are a few basic formulas that can help you determine the odds of winning the lottery.
The odds of winning the lottery are fairly low, but it's not impossible. The odds of winning the jackpot in the Powerball lottery are one in 292.2 million. This means that you have a better chance of winning the lottery than you do of becoming the president of the United States.
Buying multiple tickets for the same lottery is not going to improve your odds of winning. For example, buying 10 tickets for the same game will give you odds of winning one in 29.2 million.
Usually lottery scams involve a series of contacts that try to separate the victim from their money. They use fear tactics and attempt to extort the victim to pay for a prize. If they fail to pay, they will threaten legal action against them.
Lottery scams often target older adults. Scammers pretend to be government officials or lawyers. They may claim to be from the IRS or the Customs Department. They may require you to send money for customs fees or tax costs. They may also claim that the fee is for insurance or courier charges.
Lottery scams may also come in the form of a website, an email, or a phone call. You should always be suspicious of anyone who asks you to pay for a prize.
Previous: What You Should Know About Playing Poker
Next: The Basics of Roulette


During his time at the university, Second Lieutenant Berger was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi and Honorary Phi Beta Kappa. After graduating in June, 1917, he was preparing to take a position as a principal when the war began.
He applied for admission and was accepted to the First Officers' Training Camp at Fort Sheridan (4th Company). After receiving his commission he was assigned to Camp Custer and sailed in July, 1918. He served a majority of his time in Russia.
2d Lt. Berger died of wounds he received in action at Arkhangelsk, Russia.


This bikini is about as plein as they come.
The word "plein" means "full" in French, and indeed when looking at this cover the female figure's bikini is not only nicely full, but looks like it's strained to the point of breaking. Plein son bikini was written by Jean Normand, aka Raoul Lematte, Fernand Petit, Jacques Lienart, et al, and it appeared in 1954 from Éditions Roger Seban for its Pigall collection. Really, we're just interested in the art here, which is by the always adept Jef de Wulf. We have numerous entries on him, including this winner. Click his keywords below if you want to see more.


My name is Willy Braun (@willybraun), I'm the co-founder of daphni, a new pan-European venture capital fund investing in digital startups that have a strong impact on people's lives.
Prior to daphni, I was GM of France Digitale, a french lobby gathering startups & investors to make France a better place to found and develop digital champions.
I love books (check my library!), design, social sciences (especially psychology & economics), photography (check my photos!), clothes and marketing. But most of all, I'm fascinated by storytelling of all form.
Human Resources for Startups, a book designed for founders, managers, and investors of fast-growing companies. Based on extended interviews of 30+ experts, co-founders, CHROs, headhunters, CEOs, COOs, coaches, and VCs, it offers concrete tools and frameworks to put in place in a startup or scale-up. Get your copy in your local Amazon: US, UK, GER, FR, ES, JP, IT!
Internet Marketing (FR), written with Neila Romdane, rewarded 3 times by FNAC (biggest french book retailer) & best-selling book in its category in France in 2013.
Le guide des bonnes relations banques startups (FR), written with Mathieu Daix, with the help of the great teams of Crédit Mutuel Arkea.
and produced 200+ essays and podcasts, mainly in my former blog: brocooli (FR).
I respect your privacy & your time. But sometimes I make jokes.


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Report: 2021 Parliamentary aspirants need Shs 1 billion to win
Ugandans seeking to win Parliamentary seats in the 2021 general elections will have to spend between Shs 500 million to Shs 1 billion, a new report has estimated.
Published on Tuesday in Kampala by the Alliance for Finance Monitoring (ACFIM), an NGO that focuses on addressing commercialization of politics and elections and advocating for campaign financing reforms, the report indicates that incumbents are using money as a tool to undo the challenge brought by new competitors.
At the local government level, the report says, the district chairperson is expected to spend between Shs 300 million to Shs 500 million. These figures represent a growing appetite to spend more and more to win political office in Uganda. Losing can be equated to suicide after spending all this money.
High expectations for money among the electorates was cited among reasons that have contributed to the rising cost of an election. Former candidates interviewed for the study said they found it easier to campaign using money.
"The figures are exclusive of what candidates will spend on party primaries which in constituencies where the ruling NRM party is dominant, are equally or even more costly," said the report titled Unregulated Campaign Spending and its impact on Electoral Participants in Uganda.
The report, compiled with support from the Democratic Governance Facility, deepens the debate on the commercialization of election and politics in Uganda. Previous studies have shown that political parties spend in hundreds of billions of Shillings to entice voters on their side.
The impact also noted in the latest report, is that as money is spent in the electoral process, it has come at the expense of the service delivery.
"The downside is that at the end of the election, we have leaders who are economically bruised, trapped in debt, and vulnerable to all forms of the temptations to use all means to recoup their money," it said.
The report noted that confronted with hefty demands from electorates, including school fees, money, medical treatment, many elected leaders are sneaking into their own houses later in the night and leave early in the morning to hide away from voters.
The lead researcher Eddie Kayinda said they found that some leaders, including Members of Parliament (MPs), had become internally displaced in their homes and constituents as they keep away from demanding electorates.
Kayinda said they found that candidates raised the money via bank loans, sale of personal property, and contributions from private businesses and businessmen.
At least 79 per cent of the people interviewed for the study said they think money influences the outcomes of the electoral process.
Reacting to the report, the Alice Alaso, the national coordinator of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), said because the government has failed to deliver basic services to the citizens and improve incomes, that MPs and other leaders are seen as government and have to foot bills for their basic needs.
The study was conducted in six districts of Arua, Iganga, Hoima, Kamwenge, Mbarara and Kampala. Current and former political leaders from their districts were interviewed for the report.
Dr Sallie Simba, a political science don at Makerere University, said he was not surprised by the findings because we are in a political system where being in politics is more profitable than any other profession.
#Uganda2021 electionsACFIM
FDC rejects Hoima by-election results
Magyezi urges ULGA to facilitate conflict resolution in districts
Gov't spent Shs 1.15 trillion without Parliamentary clearance
Search for CJ Katureebe's successor kicks off
Police fire tear gas as MP Ssekikubo is bailed


Silver facial: This facial is done to detoxify and purify your skin. The silver facial consists of a glow scrub, gel, cream and pack that offers dull skin an instant lift. This facial not only restores the natural pH balance of your skin, but also clears the pores and deep cleans to prevent the formation of blackheads. Dr Sehgal, says, "The silver facial revives your skin by giving it the right amount of moisture, and evens out your tone, leaving your skin evidently supple and charming."


The Modi government has been celebrating three years of completion by offering plenty of achievements for the public. This government has undergone several interesting phases of aspirations and transition in changing the whole country. Most of the people have attained benefits through the schemes and programs implemented by Narendra Modi. Here are the top 5 achievements of Modi government till 2019.
This program is implemented to promote cleanliness and eliminate open defecation. It seems to be a brilliant thought but was designed poorly. Later on, this program creates a good image for people to make India as a cleaner country. For the past two & half years, this scheme has gained momentum & larger cities have begun to understand the significance of cleanliness. By the implementation of this scheme, most of the public places and railway stations have been getting cleaned than the past. Most of the people are showing involvement in cleaning India program.
Modi Government has taken plenty of initiatives to impact directly on the common people. The Make in India program was declared to ensure that MNCs can begin their plans in the country to create massive employment and contribute more towards nation economy. This scheme has gained bigger momentum in terms of bjp 3 year achievements & numerous countries have signed up a deal with appropriate state governments & central governments to improve Employment and FDI. In addition to that, initiatives such as Digital India have created bright future for several million people. This scheme ensures to provide a broadband connection in almost every village by the year 2020.
This scheme is considered as one of the greater achievements of Modi government till 2019. This yojana was launched on 10th March 2016. The main aim of this yojana is to offer Rs. 8000 for the rural poor people to provide LPG connections. Besides from that, about 80 lakh users have given up LPG subsidy voluntarily through "Giveitup" campaign. However, people having an income of about Rs. 10 lakh was insisted to give-up LGP subsidy.
Also Read: 5 Facts About Yogi Adityanath.
This scheme was launched on August 28, 2014. It is known to be the biggest Modi achievements in 3 years. This Yojana is created for the people to easily access financial services like Banking savings & deposit accounts, pension, insurance, credit, remittance and many others in a reasonable manner. On the start day of this yoga, about 1.5 crore bank accounts have been created. Account holders are issued with a zero-balance account with debit card and insurance coverage of about 1 lakh. After 6 month duration of opening the account, the users will get Rs. 5000 overdraft from the bank.
Since from Indian independence, plenty of planning & execution was carried out by the planning commission. However, Modi government eliminates the planning commission & implemented Niti Aayog which provides equal power to states in terms of planning. Besides from that, the government have eliminated the 5-year plan and introduced 3-year & 15-year plans with clear objectives and agendas. It calls the MSMEs and supporting entrepreneurs to improve employment in various sections. This is the famous achievements of Modi Sarkar in the past 3 years.
Also Read: Top 5 Political Leaders of India.


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Exploring the worlds of film, TV and gaming with Jonathan R. Lack and friends!
Priori Incantatem: Harry Potter Memories – Chapter Two: Reparo!
With the publication of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on the immediate horizon – a play that is effectively serving as the eighth story in the Harry Potter canon – I am republishing what remains one of my favorite articles I have ever written: Priori Incantatem: Harry Potter Memories. This piece was originally published in seven parts in November 2010, anticipating the theatrical release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1." It was my final major statement and reminiscence on the Harry Potter series I love so dearly. Thinking this might be the case when I wrote it, I chose to focus on my memories of the franchise, in sequential order, to give the reader a sense of how I experienced this unique period in pop culture history. It is among the most emotionally open, honest, and confessional piece I have ever composed – closer to autobiography at times than review or analysis – and I therefore hold it very close to my heart. Over the next few days, all seven pieces will be published here on the site, leading up to the release of The Cursed Child on Sunday. Enjoy…
Continue reading after the jump…
Chapter Two: Reparo!
Rowling's first three Harry Potter novels had completely changed my young life, and by the time first grade was out, I was obsessed with all things Potter – although back then, there wasn't nearly as much to be obsessed with. I did buy a small poster advertising the first three books from Scholastic that featured some of illustrator Mary GrandPré's artwork, though, and it's been on the door to my room ever since.
But during first grade, the series had also opened my eyes to how powerful, exciting, and captivating a good story can be. From that point forward, I wasn't satisfied with just Potter, and I began reading many other things, always craving a good story, and going back to re-read the first three Potter books when I'd exhausted the resources of my school library. Not even this could satiate my appetite, though, and I was so inspired by Rowling's stories that I felt it was time I write some of my own.
My teacher, Mrs. Pattie, fostered creativity in ways no other person I've since encountered has, so it was easy to embark on a writing career in her classroom. I wrote my first 'book' for a class project. It was called Space Pig, an illustrated adventure about a pig, an alien, and a rocket ship. I had so much fun that I had to continue writing, even when there weren't assignments. Space Pig soon became a series, and I continued to 'publish' new installments throughout Elementary School; but I wrote so many other things too, dozens of stories and poems and anecdotes, many of which I scarcely remember. If I wasn't reading, I was writing, and visa versa.
My knowledge of fiction came from Harry Potter, and I therefore knew that, for a story to work, one needed a cool, relatable protagonist, a fantastic setting, intimidating villains, and big, epic, unforgettable climaxes. These were the conditions under which I wrote creatively, and my stories were praised by my teacher and my classmates alike. In no time at all, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. By the end of first grade, I had already started telling people that I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. In eleven years, nothing has changed. The spell of inspiration Harry Potter had cast over me was irreversible.
When first grade got out for the summer in May 2000, I could not have been more excited; not because I disliked school, but because it brought me within a few weeks of the release of the fourth Harry Potter book. This was the first Potter novel I was going to get to read brand new, and the same applied to all Americans, for this would be the first book in the series to get a simultaneous launch in England and the United States, scheduled for July 8th, 2000.
As such, hype for the series grew to incredible levels. Everyone I knew was excited for the new book, and thanks to the growing popularity of the Internet, rumors, each crazier than the next, started cropping up everywhere. I spent many a lunch making and debating theories with friends. One rumor that turned out to be true was that a major character would die, and I remember how scared my friends and I were that Ron, Hermione, or Hagrid might bite the dust.
Worldwide, the launch was met with the biggest marketing campaign ever given to a novel, characterized by intense spoiler phobia. Stores worldwide, all planning midnight launch parties unprecedented in their scope and ambition, were forbidden from even opening the shipment boxes containing the books until 12:01 AM on July 8th, paranoia encouraged by Rowling herself.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she explained that "it wasn't even a marketing ploy. It came from me. This book was the culmination of 10 years' work, and something very big in terms of my ongoing plot happens at the end…had that got out, there's no way the book would have been as enjoyable to read." She did not intend it as a marketing gimmick, but I can personally vouch that the spoiler-paranoia contributed to the unbelievable levels of hype that increased with each passing day.
In fact, it was the mystery behind the title that drove much of the hype. The original working title, Harry Potter and the Doomspell Tournament, leaked early, and for months, that's what we all called it, wondering all the while what a "Doomspell Tournament" would look like. I had no idea; all I knew was that it was one hell of an exciting title.
As Rowling revised the text, "Doomspell" became "Triwizard," though a new title reflecting this change never leaked. Rowling finally settled on Goblet of Fire as the final title mere weeks before the book's release, and at that point, we'd all reserved our copies online or in-store under the "Doomspell" title. The title was chosen so late that in the audiobook, presumably recorded before Rowling picked the official title, narrator Jim Dale merely refers to the book as "the fourth volume in the Harry Potter series." Hearing the official title was quite a shock, and a bit of a letdown. The word "Goblet" just doesn't inspire the same enthusiasm as "Doomspell," even if it is accompanied by the promise of fire.
Nevertheless, nothing could kill the hype, and July 8th turned out to be a day I'll never forget. We had pre-ordered the book from Amazon.com, and as promised, it was set to arrive in the mail that day. But waiting from the time I woke up in the morning until the book came in the mail that afternoon was a slow, torturous process. I remember that my family was participating in a garage sale up the street with some neighbors, which helped me kill the time, and I even made a few dollars selling VHS tapes of "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World."
Finally, the book arrived – I practically tore it out of the mailman's hands – and I was shocked to see just how huge it was. It may not strike anyone today as strange that the new book was long, but at the time, I was used to the relatively short lengths of the first three novels. Goblet of Fire was the biggest book I'd ever seen, and that excited me to no end. Could there possibly be anything better on this earth than an extended stay at Hogwarts?
As I dived into the novel, the answer turned out to be a resounding "No!" Goblet of Fire may be long, but every last word is justified. Simultaneously the darkest and most entertaining book yet, Rowling had floored me once again with her seemingly boundless creative invention.
The opening 150 pages are some of the most insanely fun material in the entire franchise, as Harry travels with the Weasleys to the Quidditch World Cup. This was a part I read over and over as a kid, wishing I could travel to the magical campsite, get my own pair of "omnioculars," and watch the Irish and Bulgarian teams duke it out in the sky for athletic supremacy. Of course, things soon take a turn for the worst when "The Dark Mark," Voldemort's symbol, appears in the sky in the midst of a post-match riot.
It's a sudden, terrifying descent into dark madness, a gripping, page-turning chapter that sets the stage for how the rest of Goblet of Fire unfolds. Just when you think Harry is having another fun year at Hogwarts, he's selected to participate in the dangerous Triwizard Tournament; as soon as Harry works up the nerve to ask out Cho Chang, we learn she's involved with pretty-boy Cedric Diggory; once Harry triumphantly makes his way through the first two tasks, Ministry official Barty Crouch turns up at Hogwarts, insane, and mysteriously disappears.
Danger lurks around every corner in Goblet of Fire, but Rowling never diminishes the fun factor; like always, I felt as though I was really at Hogwarts, accompanying Harry on his most exciting and perilous journey yet. The expanded international scope of the novel once again made the heart of Rowling's fictional world beat stronger; like Harry, I was amazed at the prospect of wizards from other countries, and fascinated by the new characters from Durmstrang and Beuaxbatons.
Like all the books, Goblet of Fire is a mystery at heart, one that grows more complex and rewarding with each passing page. Someone wants Harry dead, and Voldemort-related-activity is on the rise, but despite the hints, I don't think anyone could have predicted the book's final, now-iconic outcome. Cedric's murder and the return of Lord Voldemort would obviously change Harry's life and the series forever, but when I first read the last 100 pages, all I knew was that I hadn't been so terrified since Ginny was taken into the chamber in book two.
Once Harry and Cedric arrive in the graveyard, Goblet of Fire is impossible to put down, and I remember sitting in our family room, planning only to read one chapter, and instead plowing through the last 100 pages in one sitting. I had never read so much at once in my life, but I had no other choice. Voldemort's resurrection and subsequent duel with Harry is unimaginably horrifying; the connection I felt I had to Harry's mind made everything in this section seem all the more real, and even though logic told me Harry had to get out of this one alive, death always seemed like the most likely outcome.
Still, the most terrifying moments come once Harry returns to Hogwarts and the full scope of the mystery is revealed; Mad-Eye Moody's true identity – death eater Barty Crouch Jr. – was heartbreaking. Like Harry, I had fallen in love with this character, and would have suspected anyone else of being the traitor before even considering Moody.
But Moody's secret and the explanation for Voldemort's master plan is a very necessary horror, as it demonstrates just how total and absolute Voldemort's victory was this time around. Yes, Harry lived, and we would later learn in Deathly Hallows that Voldemort made a fatal mistake in involving the boy in his resurrection, but at the time, the only conclusion I could come to was that this time, the bad guy won, and I had never read a book before, Potter or otherwise, where the good guys actually lose at the end. I thought it was an unbreakable rule of fiction that good always triumphs over evil and that all books must end on an uplifting note. Rowling manages to squeeze a few drops of happiness out in the last chapter, but otherwise, the ending to Goblet of Fire broke every 'rule' of fiction I knew at that point, and I wasn't the only one surprised.
The ending shocked people worldwide, and forever changed how modern audiences view children's literature. Suddenly, with a grisly character death and a victory for the villain, Harry Potter was no longer just a 'kid's book.' Culturally, it became acceptable for adults to read the novels out in public, since the subject matter had become dark enough to pass for 'grown-up' reading. Harry Potter had officially succeeded in destroying the long-standing walls between 'children' and 'adult' literature, demonstrating that with the right amount of darkness, a book can be extra-meaningful and powerful for children while providing great entertainment for adults. I believe this is what sparked the start of unabashed 'Potter-Mania' around the globe. Once Goblet of Fire hit shelves and shattered the age-wall, the audience exploded exponentially.
At the time, of course, I was not aware of the worldwide impact my favorite series was having, since shortly after finishing Goblet of Fire, I was headed back to school for second-grade, once again under the tutelage of the teacher who had fostered so much creativity and made me fall in love with school: Mrs. Pattie.
When my class returned from summer break, it seemed like all anyone could talk about was Harry Potter, and with rumors of a movie on the horizon, it looked like the topic would always be in vogue. Mrs. Pattie liked to read a few "chapter-books," as we called them, to us every year, and all of us, even those unfamiliar with the series, wanted her to read us a Potter book. Goblet of Fire was obviously too long to plow through, but Prisoner of Azkaban, a close second-favorite of all who had read it, was just the right length. I volunteered my copy of the book to be the one she would read to the class, and we were off.
Reading Harry Potter on my own had been one thing, but I had never imagined it would be so much fun to share that experience with the whole class. "Reading time" quickly became everybody's favorite part of the day – proof positive that Harry Potter has, in fact, had a drastic influence on getting kids to read, thank you very much – and we would even have some fun discussions about what was going on in the book. I remember how much everyone had to say about the time turner; many believed it would be creepy to go back in time and see yourself, but I was in the camp that thought it would be remarkable.
Alas, my copy of Prisoner of Azkaban had always had an expiration date, thanks to its broken spine, and midway through, the entire binding came loose and a hefty chunk of pages fell out while Mrs. Pattie read to us one day. Someone else brought in a paperback copy so we could continue reading, but I was devastated. None of my Potter books had needed replacement before – none ever have since, actually – and for that beloved Prisoner of Azkaban book to fall apart was akin to losing a friend. Though it certainly was not her fault, Mrs. Pattie felt compelled to buy me a new copy of the book, and inside the front cover, she wrote one the single most special messages I have ever received:
Jonathan, Thank you for sharing not only your Harry Potter book but also your humor and amazing contributions to our class. You are truly one of the smartest people I know. I have loved being your teacher. Love Always, Mrs. Pattie.
I have many great memories from first and second grade, some related to Harry Potter, and dozens more to the great friends I made, the academic passion I discovered, and the undying love for creativity forged in that classroom. I may not have a time turner, but when I open up my copy of Prisoner of Azkaban and look at Mrs. Pattie's message, my memories can still return to this simpler, wonderful time.
To be continued in Chapter Three: Petrificus Totalus!
Read the complete series here:
Chapter One: Lumos!
Chapter Three: Petrificus Totalus!
Chapter Four: Rennervate!
Chapter Five: Wingardium Leviosa!
Chapter Six: Expelliarmus!
Chapter Seven: Mischief Managed!
The text of this article is taken from my 2012 book, Fade to Lack: A Critic's Journey Through the World of Modern Film, available on Amazon and other online retailers.
Follow author Jonathan Lack on Twitter @JonathanLack.
Posted by Jonathan R. Lack at 5:00 PM
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I wasn't always lucky enough to have a location independent income. I used to work in an office job for a living as a personal assistant. I lived and worked in London for a few years and had a great job in the heart of Bloomsbury.
It's the modas operandi for most young Kiwis – work your guts in London or Edinburgh and get in as much sightseeing on that side of the globe as you can during your working holiday visa.. There are so many great free things to do in Edinburgh and London that they make the perfect base to explore at weekends even when you're not travelling.
I developed super travel ninja skills and squeezed as much enjoyment out of my 2.5 years living as I possibly could. Working out how to make the most of your annual leave is key to this. Even though I know longer have a desk job I thought I'd share with you how I went about maximizing travel while still working a full time job.
Buy annual holiday cover. It's infinitely cheaper than buying travel insurance for each and every trip you go on. If you've got annual cover, you don't have to give your travel insurance a second thought. You can just pick up and go when a cheap fare arises.
Make a spreadsheet. If you know you're only getting one year in Europe, make a list of the places you want to see and how long you'll need in each of them. Calculate the amount of annual leave you'll need to each trip and use every single day you'll have.
Book ahead for any travel you plan to do at bank holiday weekends. Flights in and out of the UK will be pricey once everyone realises a holiday weekend is coming up. At the start of the year, go through an plan you travels for every bank holiday weekend and book flights while they're still cheap.
Maximize bank holidays. Find out the dates of all the bank holidays and book your travel around them. If you've got a Monday off, take either the Friday before or the Tuesday after (or both) as annual leave. A four or five day weekend is a lot more relaxing than a three day weekend. The physical act of travel, going through airports, catching trains and buses, can be exhausting and time consuming and if you stick the the three day weekend you only get one day of non-travel.
Try and get a jump on the crowd – don't wait until after work to depart the country, that's when everyone is travelling. See if you can knock off at lunch time on the Friday without taking any leave days by working late a few nights before you go.
Easter is a real winner. You can take just four days off work but spend ten nights overseas. Leave London on the Thursday night, Friday and Monday are both holidays so you'll only need to take Tuesday to Friday off work, and return on Sunday. Brilliant!
Don't know where you want to go but know you want to get away? Use Google Flights to search for the cheapest flights out of London (or wherever) for the dates that you want to travel. With Google Flights you have the options of selecting "Europe" or any other continent/region as a destination. Not being specific let's you see where the cheapest flights go to. When I was living in London, the cheapest flights always seemed to be to Italy… I ended up visiting four times in two years! I developed a serious gelato addiction in the process. If the flights were cheap, occasionally I'd get them for £25 return, going to Italy for the weekend to eat and drink was cheaper than going out with friends in London.
Be spontaneous. While you may have planned out a year's worth of trips and accounted for all your annual leave, you can still take super short spontaneous trips on Saturdays and Sundays. Flights across to Ireland and Amsterdam are short and usually pretty cheap. Travelling by Eurostar to France or Belgium is quick and painless. And, of course, don't forget to travel around the UK – day trips to Bath and Brighton via train or hire a car and explore the countryside.
Really great tips here! I'm a Brit and until we started our RTW trip I didn't realise how much we take Europe for granted. I've never been to Ireland which is terrible! When we get home we've made a promise to explore the amazing countries we have on our doorstep more.
We take advantage of every school break, as we aren't working in Spain. We too aren't quite on the location independent lifestyle for the long haul, though we are trying to figure out how we can be. There is so much around us no matter where we live. We make the most of it and explore on the weekends, in our own town/nearby, and see as much as we can of Europe while we are here. We are very excited to explore more when school is out for the summer. The problem is, we want to see it all. At the same time, we don't want 1 day here and 2 days there. So we will see what we end up doing. Either way, we will make the most of our "Career Break" time, so thanks for the reminder!
Oh, I was an annual leave Ninja too! You could ask mu old boss, I drove him insane. I once got 10 days in Egypt out of only 2 days annual leave ( and met my husband in the process!) Great tips Bethaney!
I totally agree. Great advice! I also recommend not using annual leave time to just sit at home.
Make the most of it, I say!
Good tips – I'd also recommend trying to avoid travelling during school holidays (if you don't have kids) as the prices shoot up.
No, no, no…pls Beth… no more post like this eh… Dammm it's so xxxxxxx hard to be in a 9-18 job and I used to be a PA as well… so i can perfectly understand you!!
Great post my dear and superb tips! Can't wait to catch next flight!!
Great tips here – totally agree about Easter! score on the public holiday front!


text:
The Ghost of bps21 0
Owns All
I just got the game. They've gotta be kidding me with Green Grass and High Tides... This is gonna take a while...
Yeah that's my last song on Expert. It's not fun. The first solo isn't even the hardest. The second one just keeps.....on.....GOING. Check out Wulfe79's solo run of it on YouTube. He doesn't miss a note until a third of the way through the solo. That and him going 100% on Cult of Personality may be two of the most impressive video game events I've seen in a long time.
In other news, everyone involved with RB is getting sued by Gibson for infringement. I guess they forgot to call Gibson before they used them for the guitar.
Red Baron 0
Screw Your Problem, I'm Talking About Me!
Gibson? You mean Fender?
AnonymousBroccoli 0
Bears!
Gibson is suing, because they claim the games violate a patent they hold regarding virtual reality musical performance simulation.
They're suing Activision, Harmonix, Viacom, Wal-Mart, Amazon, Toys R Us, Target... Good luck with that.
RonL21 0
People's Champ
I caught pure Hell when I first started playing. I just popped the game in and started playing it and thought it was rather hard on easy.
Then I hit pause and discovered it had a "Lefty Mode". Been Having a good time ever since..LOL
No it was Gibson. I'm just braindead today.
Yeah I don't think that lawsuit's going to fly very far.
Gibson is suing in regards to GH, not Rockband from what I know.
Obi Chris Kenobi 0
Nintendowned 12/12/07
Location:Newcastle, England
I had read it was MTV and EA as well, I think this has something to do with the dodgy midi guitar Gibson made back in 1999ish. They think in someway that relates to the virtual guitar you use in Guitar Hero, which in some ways is similar, but hardly enough to go busting skulls over, especially on the scale they're trying.
What's even stranger is that Gibson have been in partnership with Activision, Harmonix, etc, for the last 3 years and have said NOTHING. This all probably comes down to Gibson thinking they're not getting a big enough cut of the profits.
Was it GH? I thought the crawl on G4 said Rock Band. Well, Gibson is suing a bunch of people over a music game. There.
ZGangsta 0
Gibson's suing the makers of Rock Band, the makers of Guitar Hero, and people selling the games. It's straight up patent trolling for something they filed a decade ago and then never did anything with.
Totally fucked up.
#1 Cheerleader of TSM
Location:Tasmania, Australia
The release in Australia has been pushed back until August. That very fact compelled me to buy a Wii for the next few months to keep me occupied.
RB's next music release is a 6 pack from Boston, including "More Than a Feeling". I'm going to have some serious updating to do when U get some money and finally get my 360 fixed again.
Rock Band Wii Edition official
I can finally tell people at work that, yes, this damn game is (eventually) on Wii as well.
claydude14 0
Busch: That's how I roll
Too bad it's a port of the butchered PS2 version, but better than nothing I guess.
Canadian Brandon 0
If you know what I mean...
Location:Tennessee
I hate the PS2 version of the game. I want my downloadable content dammit!
"Still Alive" from Portal will be available for free download on April 1st. Cool.
It's cool that it's free. I would have bought it just because it's such a cool song.
migoli 0
Hmm so i'm trying to do the unlock all cheat and i just can not get it to work. I'm using a GH guitar, would that make it not work?
I Fucking Hate Comcast
not to be outdone by Guitar Hero debuting a single from a band, tommorow on top of adding Blondie's Call Me, Lynard Skyanrd's Simple Man and Police's Message in a Bottle, a new single from Motley Crue called Saints of Los Angles will debut as well:
http://www.gamespot.com/pages/news/show_bl...estnews;title;1
First full-album DLC this Tuesday: Screaming for Vengeance by Judas Priest for $15, or $2 per individual song.
And two more albums to add for future release: The Cars' self-titled album, and Doolittle by The Pixies. Possibly in May and June, respectively. Who's Next and Nevermind are still in the works, as far as I can tell.
http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44599
The Cars' self-titled album...
The Cars? Sweet. I don't know a whole lot about their early stuff, but the guitar part of "My Best Friend's Girl" should be fun to play. "Moving In Stereo" is going to give me Phoebe Cates flashbacks though.
$15 seems a bit steep for a Judas Priest album at about 8 songs or so. I understand some extra cost involved with the work that goes into taking the tracks and making them playable but still.
Doolittle?! Fuck, I'm gonna have to finally buy this whenever that comes.
9 tracks, 10 songs, with "The Hellion" mixed in to "Electric Eye", since it's only 41 seconds.
It's in line with the two 6-packs released so far, at $1.66/song. Compared to $1.83/song for 3-packs, or $2/song individually.
Typical EA fashion, the UK version of Rock Band is almost double what its worth in the US. Wankers.
The Flamboyance 0
That's awesome.
Thoth 0
AndrewTS is my Target Demographic.
Okay, just picked this up on 360. Is there a TSM band on Xbox Live?
Frosty 0
I don't know about a band of TSMers, but I have it....
My tag is CanadianFrosty
I have it too. Mostly play guitar and vocals online since I still suck on drums.
Edited April 21, 2008 by KingPK


D.J. Scheffler & Nye designs and builds projects involving Deep Foundations, Micro-Piles, Underpinning, Earth Shoring, Tiebacks & Rock Anchors, Retaining Walls & Slope Repair.
D.J. Scheffler & Nye, Inc. is a drilling contractor with more than 35 years of experience in foundation, environmental and geotechnical drilling. Built on a foundation of rock solid service, D.J. Scheffler & Nye holds contractors' and/or specialty licenses in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Washington. We also offer services in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Colorado via other Scheffler companies. With a completion rate of over 150 projects per year in both the public and private sectors, D.J. Scheffler & Nye can design and build jobs involving deep foundations, micro-piles, underpinning, earth shoring, tiebacks and rock anchors, retaining walls and slope repair.
Starting work in 1979, D.J. Scheffler Construction initially focused on concrete contracting. In 1985, Owner and President Dale Scheffler saw the need for a drill rig that could install piles on hillsides. Once this specialty hillside rig was designed, built and working, the demand for other drilling, as well as Dale's expertise, was overwhelming. Dale continued to buy equipment and hire skilled personnel to keep up with the challenges he was facing. This included employing engineers, so that by 1989, D.J. Scheffler, Inc. could design, as well as build, most projects.
Today, D.J. Scheffler & Nye has a sizable inventory of cranes, excavators, tractors, and drill rigs ranging from the Soilmec 930 (one of the largest of its kind in the United States) to the small and versatile, limited-access Davey Kent 525 (3.5' wide). Recognized as one of the leading drilling contractors, D.J. Scheffler & Nye has a sharp focus on customer service and innovation.
For more than 35 years, D.J. Scheffler & Nye has offered assistance in the design/build process on many jobs, facilitating the most cost-effective approach to complete the project.
The D.J. Scheffler & Nye team has included an established network of professionals in a variety of fields including, but not limited to, geotechnical, structural, civil engineering, field construction and landscape architecture. This network of professionals has greatly expanded our design/build capabilities and allows us to participate in almost any type of project.
D.J. Scheffler & Nye has taken an uncompromising stance on safety. Safety is not only a duty but one of our values. We have gone to great lengths to ensure the safety of our employees while still providing a high quality end result on all of our projects.
We have learned how to balance quality with safety in a way that makes sense to our employees and our clients. It is this resolve that allows D.J. Scheffler & Nye to move forward and gain respect in our industry even in this difficult industrial climate.
D.J. Scheffler & Nye's safety record has gained notoriety in the past several years. In 2008 we received a safety recognition award from State Fund that is only awarded approximately every ten years. This award recognizes programs for their excellence, low occurrence of safety issues, and also recognizes efforts that go "above and beyond" the average safety program.
One way D.J. Scheffler & Nye goes "above and beyond" is by conducting quarterly safety meetings that are company wide. We train and certify all our employees in topics such as CPR/First Aid, Excavation Competent Person, Fall Protection, Forklift/Reach Lift, and Confined Space Entry.
It is our philosophy that our safety program is never finished; it is continually evolving and maturing.
1989 – 2016: D.J. Scheffler, Inc.
2016 – Present: D.J. Scheffler & Nye, Inc.
Since 1985, D.J. Scheffler has built their reputation of providing the highest quality foundation drilling service one project at a time. From Earth Shoring, Landslide and Slope Repair to Ground Improvement and Environmental Drilling, D.J. Scheffler & Nye has the expertise to get the job done right. Need further proof? Check out our Projects to see the results.


Why Do I See Ferning All the Time?
There are some women who make higher amounts of estrogen all the time. This could be for many reasons, including low progesterone, ovarian cysts, or a condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome. The most common reason for prolonged ferning is pregnancy! If you continue to see ferns all throughout your cycle, you should see your health care professional.


For use on patients who have undergone surgery or repeated operations for pathologies in the abdominal area, who have gastro-intestinal fistulae of high or medium nature, which are a consequence of anastomotic dehiscences or other lesions. The SIM Duodenal Drain is a negative pressure suction drainage system which is used in contrast to past methods when it was often necessary to undergo surgery straightaway.
The SIM Duodenal Drain tube was designed to be used on patients that present an anastomotic dehiscence, whether it be a case of spontaneous closure or if it requires further surgery (application via gastroscope), or for protection of evaluated anastomosis, during the operation, of high risk for dehiscence (for application during the operation). In both cases, the tube is positioned by progressively introducing it into the gastro-intestinal tract until reaching beyond the Vater papilla, between the third and fourth duodenal portions. Once there, the distal balloon is inflated with 80 ml. of water (a regulated procedure according to the patient's response). It is recommended to deflate this balloon every 48 hours, turning it and re-inflating it after a few minutes to avoid decubitus ulcers. The tube was designed to be connected to a low pressure suction source. Among the notable qualities of this device is the capacity to almost completely totalise bile externally, creating first of all a clean area in which the physiological processes of closure of the dehiscence are favourable, and secondly, generating an environment where the best conditions are created, in the event that a surgical operation is necessary. Given the reduced proportions of the aeration line, it is necessary, depending on the needs, to inflate from the outside. The tolerance of the SIM Duodenal Drain on the part of the patients is normally optimum, with the initial discomfort determined by the inflation of the balloon which can be easily overcome by progressive inflation until the normal value is reached. The device is designed to normally be left in place not beyond 30 days.


text:
Q: Kraus representation of linear maps I wish to prove the following theorem:
Theorem: For every linear map $\Phi\in T(\mathcal{X},\mathcal{Y})$ there exist sets of operators $\{A_r: r\in\Sigma\}$ and $\{B_r: r\in\Sigma\}$, with $A_r:L(\mathcal{X})\rightarrow L(\mathcal{X},\mathcal{Y})$ and $B_r:L(\mathcal{X})\rightarrow L(\mathcal{X},\mathcal{Y})$ such that
\begin{equation}
\Phi(X)=\sum_r A_r X B_r^*,~~~~~~\forall X\in L(\mathcal{X}),
\end{equation}
where $\mathcal{X}$ is a finite-dimensional complex vector space, $L(\mathcal{X})$ is the set of linear operators from $\mathcal{X}\rightarrow\mathcal{X}$ and $T(\mathcal{X},\mathcal{Y})$ is the set of all linear maps from $L(\mathcal{X})\rightarrow L(\mathcal{Y})$.
This is what I have so far as proof:
Let $\{E_{kl}\}$ and $\{E_{mn}\}$ be the standard bases for $L(\mathcal{X})$ and $L(\mathcal{Y})$ respectively. Expanding $X$ in the operator basis for $L(\mathcal{X})$ and using linearity of $\Phi$ we have
\begin{equation}
\Phi(X)=\sum_{kl}X_{kl}~\Phi(E_{kl}).
\end{equation}
The above implies that
\begin{equation}
\Phi(X)=\sum_{kl,mn}X_{kl}~\langle m |\Phi(E_{kl})|n\rangle |m\rangle\langle n|\\
=\sum_{kl,mn}\langle m |\Phi(E_{kl})|n\rangle |m\rangle\langle k|~X~|l\rangle\langle n|.
\end{equation}
This implies that
\begin{equation}\label{eq:vecphi(X)}
vec\Big(\Phi(X)\Big)=\sum_{kl,mn}\langle m |\Phi(E_{kl})|n\rangle~vec\Big( |m\rangle\langle k|~X~|l\rangle\langle n|\Big)\notag\\
=\sum_{kl,mn}\langle m |\Phi(E_{kl})|n\rangle |m\rangle\langle  k|\otimes|n\rangle\langle l|~vec\big(X\big)\notag\\
=\Phi\Big(vec\big(X\big)\Big).
\end{equation}
The last equality follows from the linearity of vec and $\Phi$.
Thus,
\begin{equation}
\Phi=\sum_{kl, mn}\phi_{mk,nl}~|m\rangle\langle   k|\otimes|n\rangle\langle   l|,
\end{equation}
where
\begin{equation}
\phi_{mk,nl}=\langle m |\Phi(E_{kl})|n\rangle.
\end{equation}
Note that the above equation can also be expressed as
\begin{equation}
\Phi=\sum_{kl, mn}\phi_{mk, nl}~|mn \rangle\langle kl|\notag\\
=\sum_{kl, mn}\phi_{mk, nl}~vec\Big(E_{mn}\Big)vec\Big(E_{kl}\Big)^*,
\end{equation}
As $\Phi\in T(\mathcal{X},\mathcal{Y})$, it admits a singular value decomposition, namely sets of vectors $\{x_1,x_2,...x_r\}\subset\mathcal{X}\otimes\mathcal{X}$ and $\{y_1,y_2,...y_r\}\subset\mathcal{Y}\otimes\mathcal{Y}$ along with a set of positive reals $\{s_1, s_2,...s_r\}$ such that
\begin{equation}
\Phi=\sum_rs_ry_rx_r^*.
\end{equation}
The last two equations together imply
\begin{equation}
\phi_{mk,nl}=\sum_r s_r vec\Big(E_{mn}\Big)^*y_rx_r^*vec\Big(E_{kl}\Big)\notag\\
=\sum_r s_r ~a_{mn}^r ~b_{kl}^{r*},
\end{equation}
where $a_{mn}^r=vec\Big(E_{mn}\Big)^*y_r$ and $b_{kl}^{r*}=x_r^*~vec\Big(E_{kl}\Big)$. Recalling the second equation from the top for $\Phi(X)$  and using the expression for $\phi_{mknl}$ we have
\begin{equation}
\Phi(X)=\sum_{kl,mn}\phi_{mk, nl} |m\rangle\langle k|~X~|l\rangle\langle n|\\
=\sum_r s_r \sum_{kl,mn} ~a_{mn}^r ~b_{kl}^{r*} |m\rangle\langle k|~X~|l\rangle\langle n|.
\end{equation}
Now, if one could interchange the indices $n$ and $k$ one would be through as then the sum of $m,k$ would give an operator that would multiply $X$ from the left and summing over $l,n$ would give an operator that would multiply $X$ from the right. However, that is certainly not obvious.
I know an alternative proof that uses the Choi-Jamilkowski isomorphism. However, I'm not sure if this proof can be completed or if it is wrong.
Any comment or reference would be of great help.
Thanks.

A: I believe that your method of proof will not work. First of all, your Theorem as stated is incorrect, since your operators $A_r$ and $B_r$ are not on the correct spaces. The correctly stated theorem is:
Theorem: For every linear map $\Phi\in \operatorname{T}(\mathcal{X},\mathcal{Y})$ there exist collections of operators $\{A_r: r\in\Sigma\}\subset\operatorname{L}(\mathcal{X},\mathcal{Y})$ and $\{B_r: r\in\Sigma\}\subset\operatorname{L}(\mathcal{X},\mathcal{Y})$ such that
$$
\Phi(X)=\sum_r A_r X B_r^*,~~~~~~\forall X\in L(\mathcal{X}).
$$
That is, each $A_r$ and $B_r$ is a linear operator from $\mathcal{X}$ to $\mathcal{Y}$ (not from $\operatorname{L}(\mathcal{X})$ to $\operatorname{L}(\mathcal{X},\mathcal{Y})$, as your theorem statement indicates).
It is helpful to introduce the following notation to be able to discriminate between the mapping and its matrix representation (both of which you call $\Phi$ in your question).
The natural representation of a linear mapping $\Phi\in\operatorname{T}(\mathcal{X},\mathcal{Y})$ is the operator $K(\Phi)\in\operatorname{L}(\mathcal{X}\otimes\mathcal{X},\mathcal{Y}\otimes\mathcal{Y})$ defined as
$$
K(\Phi)x\otimes y = \operatorname{vec}(\Phi(xy^{\scriptscriptstyle\mathsf{T}}))
$$
for all vectors $x,y\in\mathcal{X}$ (or analgously as $K(\Phi)\operatorname{vec}(X)=\operatorname{vec}(\Phi(X))$ for all operators $X\in\operatorname{L}(\mathcal{X})$).
The "matrix entries" of the natural representation $K(\Phi)$ are now what you call $\phi_{mk,nl}$. Namely, the values $\phi_{mk,nl}$ satisfy
$$
K(\Phi)(\operatorname{vec}(E_{k,l})) = \sum_{m,n}\phi_{mk,nl}\operatorname{vec}(E_{m,n}).
$$
Following your attempted proof, we can find a singular value decomposition of $K(\Phi)$ by choosing operators $A_r\in\operatorname{L}(\mathcal{X})$ and $B_r\in\operatorname{L}(\mathcal{Y})$ such that
$$
K(\Phi) = \sum_r \operatorname{vec}(B_r)\operatorname{vec}(A_r)^* \tag{$1$}
$$
(where we can absorb the values $s_r$ into either $A_r$ or $B_r$), and these are exactly the operators whose matrix entres you have denoted as $a_{kl}^r$ and $b_{mn}^r$ respectively. Unfortunately, this collection of operators $A_r$ and $B_r$ cannot be the desired operators in your Theorem since they are not operators of the correct form. Namely, the operators $A_r$ and $B_r$ in the decomposition in (1) are in $A_r\in\operatorname{L}(\mathcal{X})$ and $B_r\in\operatorname{L}(\mathcal{Y})$. But the operators you are looking for in your theorem are $A_r,B_r\in\operatorname{L}(\mathcal{X},\mathcal{Y})$. This is therefore not the correct singular value decomposition needed to prove the Theorem.
The "correct" way to prove the Theorem is simply to use the Choi-Jamiolkowski representation of the mapping, which is the operator $J(\Phi)\in\operatorname{L}(\mathcal{Y}\otimes\mathcal{X})$ defined as
$$
J(\Phi) = \sum_{kl}\Phi(E_{k,l})\otimes E_{k,l}.
$$
The desired operators $\{A_r: r\in\Sigma\}\subset\operatorname{L}(\mathcal{X},\mathcal{Y})$ and $\{B_r: r\in\Sigma\}\subset\operatorname{L}(\mathcal{X},\mathcal{Y})$ now come from the singular value decomposition of $J(\Phi)$, where
$$
J(\Phi) = \sum_r \operatorname{vec}(A_r)\operatorname{vec}(B_r^{\scriptscriptstyle\mathsf{T}})^*.
$$

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Awesome: 33.33%
Worth A Look: 33.33%
Average: 33.33%
See another review of this film:Jay Seaver (Average) Lybarger (Worth A Look)
Waking Sleeping Beauty
by brianorndorf
"Go ahead, blame The Black Cauldron for eveything"
The Walt Disney Animation Studio has such a storied history of screen classics, it�s nearly impossible to fully consider the artistic roller coaster ride the company has endured since Walt introduced the world to the miracle of feature-length animation back in 1937, with �Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.� The Mouse House has enjoyed great success and its share of humiliating failures, but somewhere in the mid-1980s, all hope was lost. Disney Animation was about to vanish for good.
Beaten into submission by plunging box office grosses, uninspired creative endeavors, and difficulties merging the old animation guard (the famous �Nine Old Men�) with the new kids on the block, Disney Animation was in dire straits in 1985, having witnessed their latest offering, the winningly sinister �The Black Cauldron,� beaten at the box office by �The Care Bears Movie.� The picture lost millions for the studio and effectively killed morale amongst the animators. �Waking Sleeping Beauty� is an insider documentary from longtime producer Don Hahn, chronicling the delicate post �Cauldron� years, when Disney shaped up, refocused its priorities, and proceeded to conquer Hollywood with a string of hits that redefined animation, reinforcing Walt�s legacy (and earning potential) for eons to come.
Startlingly, �Waking Sleeping Beauty� isn�t a talking heads documentary reheating leftover war stories from the usual suspects, polishing the trophies and self-congratulating itself into a coma. What Hahn has here is video footage, tons of it, dating back to 1980, when the next generation of animators (most from the nearby school CalArts) stormed the studio gates eager to leap into Disney history. Instead of weathered faces recalling the past, we see actual footage of the formative years in question, basking in the glow of impetuous office behaviors and youthful monkey business, with future legends John Lasseter and Tim Burton mingling in the group, blending into a sea of gifted artists excited to further the Disney way.
How that unique way was solidified is another story, requiring the introduction of suits Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Frank Wells, and Peter Schneider, who raided the castle at Roy E. Disney�s behest, ready to restructure the brand name using their slick Hollywood hubris; the frosty side of business, alien to the animators and their sensitivities. The rebirth began with �The Great Mouse Detective,� worked its way to �Oliver & Company,� and settled into �The Little Mermaid.� The fish fantasy exploded to such a degree, everyone was ready to assume credit for the work, angling to be the face of the new Disney as it picked itself off the ground, dusted itself off, and proceeded to bang out hits with a frightening ease.
That sustained note of ego forms the spine of �Waking Sleeping Beauty,� which submits a shockingly honest take on the golden years of the company, underlining the creative combustibility of the group. While the animators are given their due (often working their frustrations out through caricature), and Hahn makes for an emotive and insightful narrator, the thrust of the picture remains with the executives, who fought over hierarchy and camera time, helping to guide the business, but with an eye toward their own press. Being the man in charge of the animators, Katzenberg receives the most delicate treatment, reflecting a puzzling time when his power and input wasn�t always welcome in the creative sector. Roy Disney isn�t treated with kid gloves either, with startling footage included of the man at his most crudely demanding, culminating in a brief scene where Roy half-jokingly requests a more celebratory introduction from a teary Eisner at Wells�s 1994 funeral. It�s a priceless moment of naked behavior that Hahn wisely ceases to reinforce with narration or editing.
Once �Beauty and the Beast� arrived in 1991, the studio was ready for the spotlight, collecting awards, monster box office returns, and encouraging carpal tunnel syndrome, as animators were pushed to their physical limits to make Disney�s yearly release schedule. Admittedly, the same story of wistful irritation was documented in the 2005 short, �Dream on Silly Dreamer,� yet �Waking Sleeping Beauty� doesn�t make much room for sour statements, preferring to let the mood of the footage speak for the company mindset. There�s not a vague emotion here, and the arc of corporate and artistic frustration is clear as a bell, beautifully charted with a plethora of footage that paints an undeniable picture of joy and exasperation.
With �Aladdin� and �The Lion King,� Disney Animation reached a perilous plateau of success that could never be sustained, succumbing to the infighting between Katzenberg and Eisner, along with the expanding egos of the animators themselves, who ceased to be motivated by wonder, intoxicated by the number of zeros in their paychecks. It�s not a scandalous story, but �Waking Sleeping Beauty� delves into a riveting dark side, contrasted superbly with the cheery facade of colorful characters and fairy tale endings the studio was churning out.
And then it all ends. The documentary halts after Katzenberg�s resignation, leaving the next chapter of the Disney Animation saga, where everything more or less fell apart, unspoken. I suppose this is by choice; by the release of �Pocahontas,� the band had pretty much broken up, leaving Hahn in a difficult position to either cram in the sorrow and the failure or end with the titular princess in the ready position, accurately reflecting the era the documentary seeks to appraise. �Waking Sleeping Beauty� is a righteous effort to compile the feelings and dreams of an animation generation, gracefully communicated through astonishing footage of the workers and the moneymen with their guard down. It�s a must-see for any Disney purist, but is also an emotive, stunningly valuable documentary in its own right.
link directly to this review at https://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=19708&reviewer=404
originally posted: 04/17/10 06:47:28
printer-friendly format
OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2009 Toronto International Film Festival For more in the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival series, click here.
OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2010 Dallas International Film Festival For more in the 2010 Dallas International Film Festival series, click here.
26-Mar-2010 (PG)
DVD: 30-Nov-2010


This week at LULu Art, the theme was perseverance.
#8 called for cutting blocks and rearranging them.
I only did one this week - it is just getting to make it a habit.
Each week, Julia Dunnit of "Stamping Ground", hosts WOYWW and we are all encouraged to share what we are working on and what our work spaces look like.
My work space this week was on my dining room table and I had just finished two cards for challenges.
Tag Tuesday - theme was "spring flowers"
Sunday Postcard Art - theme was "dictionary"
This week at ABC Wednesday, G is the star.
Be check here to see what others around the world did for G.
Just what we need a bit of these days - HOPE. On a walk along the river this afternoon, I saw this graffiti - loved it.What a gorgeous day to be out for a walk - more like spring! We set a record here yesterday and today it was 10 C (about 50F). Sure doesn't feel like winter.- usually we are below zero, with lots of snow. Now it is all melting.
Love these scrap metal sculptures - they sure make fun shadows.
Be sure to check here to see the shadows found by others around the world.
Check here for beautiful skies from around the world.
A day late to post I know - but some weeks and days just become busier than others.
This weekly challenge hosted at LuLu Art has been most enjoyable. I find deciding how to interpret the theme (this week it is moving forward) as well as searching for complimentary quotes.
This is a fun project I always did with my students and they loved it. Interchanging body parts can get interesting.
I also created some art cards and tags for several challenges this week. Here's the link to the post on the cards.
It is time once again for the weekly WOYWW - which Julia Dunnit hosts at "Stamping Ground"- and where we share our workspaces and what we are working on.
Today I was busy with some art challenges and by the time I was done my dining room table was a MESS!
Art Journal Journey - "50 Shades of Red"
I enjoy creating tags and when I found this copy of my Mom on her wedding day, I knew I wanted to create a card for her.
Try It on Tuesday - "Let's Get Messy"
Creating the background involved some very messy printing and painting and even using fingers. A lot of fun.
Go Tag Thursday - "Wheels/Cogs"
This week at ABC Wednesday , F gets the nod.
F is for Benjamin Franklin - with words of wisdom we all need to hear and follow.
Be sure to visit here to see what others around the world did for F.
Another has passed by - and a few more art pieces completed. I need that time to play with paint and paper - it is helping to keep my stress level down.
The theme of love is an appropriate one for this week at LuLu Art- and the quote points to the mystery of why we fall in love with who we do.
The theme for this week at Tag Tuesday was "bookworm" and when I found the quote I used, I knew it was appropriate for the holiday coming.
"I see them as a link between the heavens and the earth, and as a symbol of rebirth and resurrection."
I am taking part in a Valentine exchange and I have been creating backgrounds and cards for this exchange.


Sardinia's northeast sparkles with beaches, protected islands and a parade of luxury yachts plying its translucent seas — and it's also a favourite spot for letting your inner child splash out and get gloriously wet.
Join your yacht in Sardinia's hub, glamorous Porto Cervo, named after its antler-shaped cove. Jet Ski, windsurf and kayak along its jagged coastline, part of the Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast). Afterward, test your land legs by wandering its boutiques; strolling to Stelle D Stelle restaurant, where 10 Michelin-star chefs will alternate for a week each between mid-June and mid-September; and dancing under the stars at Phi Beach, an open-air beach club west of Porto Cervo.
From here, cruise south to Cala di Volpe Bay, where you can waterski and kayak before stepping ashore for cocktails at Hotel Cala di Volpe's Bar Pontile, the setting for the 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me. Continue south to Portisco, Porto Rotondo and Golfo di Marinella for more James Bond style glamour and beach exploration, then backtrack north and explore Maddalena Archipelago National Park's seven predominant isles and more than 50 smaller isles and islets via tender. If you've obtained a permit, go scuba diving off the island of Caprera.
For traditional cuisine, including Sardinian suckling pig, drive 20 minutes southwest of Porto Cervo to La Sasima, in San Pantaleo — one of the best rustic restaurants in the Mediterranean. Tastings of wines, cheeses, honey and salami — all produced on site — are also available.
Carl Sputh, captain of Starfire, recommends Greece's northern Ionian Islands — Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos and the Sivota Islands — for embracing your yacht's water toys. "Corfu is a nice cruising ground; you can always find calm water [for watersports]," explains Sputh. And, he continues, you can easily circle around 11.6-square-mile Paxos and two-square-mile Antipaxos with Jet Skis. And while you probably shouldn't use Jet Skis and waterskis between the tiny Sivota Islands (Mavro Oros, Agios Nikolaos, Mourtemeno and Mikro Mourtemeno) you can run them outside, says Sputh. These islands lie just off the mainland village of Sivota, opposite southeastern Corfu, and are often busy with swimmers and smaller boats. Sputh also recommends using Seabobs around the southern part of Mavro Oros up to its Blue Lagoon. Begin your weeklong vacation on Corfu's east coast, in Corfu Town (Kerkyra). While here, explore UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town of Corfu, which has roots in the 8th century BC. Visit the 15th century Palaio Frourio (Old Fortress), which dominates a rocky peninsula, and pause for a drink at the Cavalieri Hotel's Roof Top Bar. Venture in a northerly direction along Corfu's mountainous east coast, pausing to bring out the Jet Skis off Barbati, Nissaki, Agniand Kerasia beaches and windsurf and kite surf in Avlaki Bay before cruising south to the Sivota Islands. Afterward, head southwest to Paxos, which, according to legend, Poseidon separated from Corfu with his trident, creating a peaceful place for an interlude with a nymph. Contemplate this myth as you explore some of the sea caves on Paxos' southwest coast, scuba dive underwater caves and shipwrecks and fish for tuna. Wander around Two-square-mile Antipaxos, three nautical miles southeast of Paxos' port of Gaios, is renowned for having some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean and Greek varietal wines such as Mavrodáfni. It's also a great place to stretch your legs for a couple hours. Paths meander amid orchards and olive groves between Vrika and Voutoumi beaches, up to Vigla Village and down to the lighthouse in the south. Mangia Corfu's cuisine has been influenced by many cultures, particularly Italian. One popular dish is pastitsada — veal or rooster cooked with olive oil, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, bay leaves, pepper and served with spaghetti.
Carl Sputh, captain of Starfire, recommends Greece's northern Ionian Islands — Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos and the Sivota Islands — for embracing your yacht's water toys. "Corfu is a nice cruising ground; you can always find calm water [for watersports]," explains Sputh. And, he continues, you can easily circle around 11.6-square-mile Paxos and two-square-mile Antipaxos with Jet Skis.
And while you probably shouldn't use Jet Skis and waterskis between the tiny Sivota Islands (Mavro Oros, Agios Nikolaos, Mourtemeno and Mikro Mourtemeno) you can run them outside, says Sputh. These islands lie just off the mainland village of Sivota, opposite southeastern Corfu, and are often busy with swimmers and smaller boats. Sputh also recommends using Seabobs around the southern part of Mavro Oros up to its Blue Lagoon.
Begin your weeklong vacation on Corfu's east coast, in Corfu Town (Kerkyra). While here, explore UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town of Corfu, which has roots in the 8th century BC. Visit the 15th century Palaio Frourio (Old Fortress), which dominates a rocky peninsula, and pause for a drink at the Cavalieri Hotel's Roof Top Bar.
Venture in a northerly direction along Corfu's mountainous east coast, pausing to bring out the Jet Skis off Barbati, Nissaki, Agniand Kerasia beaches and windsurf and kite surf in Avlaki Bay before cruising south to the Sivota Islands.
Afterward, head southwest to Paxos, which, according to legend, Poseidon separated from Corfu with his trident, creating a peaceful place for an interlude with a nymph. Contemplate this myth as you explore some of the sea caves on Paxos' southwest coast, scuba dive underwater caves and shipwrecks and fish for tuna.
Two-square-mile Antipaxos, three nautical miles southeast of Paxos' port of Gaios, is renowned for having some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean and Greek varietal wines such as Mavrodáfni. It's also a great place to stretch your legs for a couple hours. Paths meander amid orchards and olive groves between Vrika and Voutoumi beaches, up to Vigla Village and down to the lighthouse in the south.
Corfu's cuisine has been influenced by many cultures, particularly Italian. One popular dish is pastitsada — veal or rooster cooked with olive oil, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, bay leaves, pepper and served with spaghetti.
When asked to identify favorite places for jet skiing and other water sports, more than one captain mentioned Magens Bay, a large, calm anchorage in St. Thomas' north that is surrounded by land on three sides. And the U.S. Virgin Islands' other islands provide additional opportunities for in-water fun. Fly into Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, the USVI's capital and the most visited port in the Caribbean, and cruise north to Magens Bay to spend the day exercising your Jet Skis, waterskis, wakeboards and Seabobs. The following day, travel south to peaceful Water Island, anchoring in Druif Bay on its western side. Here, snorkel to Honeymoon Beach, visit Fort Segarra (part of the U.S. defense strategy during WWII) and, if it's Monday, join locals for an evening movie on the sand. If you want to visit the largest USVI, head south to St. Croix, anchoring in the bay at Christiansted. Explore Salt River Bay, where Columbus landed in, via kayak, then return in the evening to experience the bay's bioluminescence, where glowing jellyfish, glow worms and dinoflagellates create sparkling magic each time your paddle stirs the water. The following day, seek out deeper enchantment, either diving the wall at Cane Bay, which extends along much of the North Shore, or exploring the underwater world around Buck Island Reef National Monument, to the northeast. Afterward, continue north to St. John, where percent of the land is national park. Anchor in Francis Bay, on the island's north shore, and greet its turtles and fi sh as you navigate its clear waters via snorkel or paddleboard. Finally, return to Charlotte Amalie — and if you're craving a final dose of fast-toy action, call in to the captains' favourite — Magens Bay — one more time. Throw in the BVIs Todd Likins, captain of Just Enough, suggests incorporating the nearby British Virgin Islands into your USVI itinerary. Jet Skis are prohibited there, but other toys will get a workout. Likins' play recommendations include North Sound and Savannah Bay (Virgin Gorda) for paddleboarding and kayaking; Long Bay (Virgin Gorda) and The Bight (Norman Island) for wakeboarding and waterskiing; and Peter Island for diving and snorkelling. Play by the rules Rob Carlin, agent at St. Thomas Cargo and Ship Services, explains that using Jet Skis, Seabobs, waterskis and anything else pulled by a boat is prohibited in USVI national park waters. This includes Buck Island, Salt River Bay and most of the waters surrounding St. John. *Bottoms up * Quench your saltwater induced thirst with a bittersweet local drop named maubi, made from tree bark fermented with ginger root, yeast and herbs. Alternatively, grab a bottle of Tropical Mango Pale Ale, St. John Brewers' flagship beer.
When asked to identify favorite places for jet skiing and other water sports, more than one captain mentioned Magens Bay, a large, calm anchorage in St. Thomas' north that is surrounded by land on three sides. And the U.S. Virgin Islands' other islands provide additional opportunities for in-water fun.
Fly into Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, the USVI's capital and the most visited port in the Caribbean, and cruise north to Magens Bay to spend the day exercising your Jet Skis, waterskis, wakeboards and Seabobs. The following day, travel south to peaceful Water Island, anchoring in Druif Bay on its western side. Here, snorkel to Honeymoon Beach, visit Fort Segarra (part of the U.S. defense strategy during WWII) and, if it's Monday, join locals for an evening movie on the sand.
If you want to visit the largest USVI, head south to St. Croix, anchoring in the bay at Christiansted. Explore Salt River Bay, where Columbus landed in, via kayak, then return in the evening to experience the bay's bioluminescence, where glowing jellyfish, glow worms and dinoflagellates create sparkling magic each time your paddle stirs the water. The following day, seek out deeper enchantment, either diving the wall at Cane Bay, which extends along much of the North Shore, or exploring the underwater world around Buck Island Reef National Monument, to the northeast.
Afterward, continue north to St. John, where percent of the land is national park. Anchor in Francis Bay, on the island's north shore, and greet its turtles and fi sh as you navigate its clear waters via snorkel or paddleboard.
Finally, return to Charlotte Amalie — and if you're craving a final dose of fast-toy action, call in to the captains' favourite — Magens Bay — one more time.
Todd Likins, captain of Just Enough, suggests incorporating the nearby British Virgin Islands into your USVI itinerary. Jet Skis are prohibited there, but other toys will get a workout. Likins' play recommendations include North Sound and Savannah Bay (Virgin Gorda) for paddleboarding and kayaking; Long Bay (Virgin Gorda) and The Bight (Norman Island) for wakeboarding and waterskiing; and Peter Island for diving and snorkelling.
Rob Carlin, agent at St. Thomas Cargo and Ship Services, explains that using Jet Skis, Seabobs, waterskis and anything else pulled by a boat is prohibited in USVI national park waters. This includes Buck Island, Salt River Bay and most of the waters surrounding St. John.
Quench your saltwater induced thirst with a bittersweet local drop named maubi, made from tree bark fermented with ginger root, yeast and herbs. Alternatively, grab a bottle of Tropical Mango Pale Ale, St. John Brewers' flagship beer.


text:
ARTIST All Time Low
ALBUM Put Up or Shut Up
emo • pop punk • powerpop • rock • seen live
Em7            A7
Make it a sweet, sweet goodbye -
Em7                                A7
it could be for the last time and it's not right.
Em7                           A7
"Don't let yourself get in over your head," he said.
Em7                             A7 -hold-
Alone and far from home we'll find you...
E                                   A
Dead - Like a candle you burned out;
E                              A
spill the wax over the spaces left in place of angry words.
E                             A
Scream - To be heard, like you needed any more attention;
E                           A
throw the bottle, break the door, and disappear.
E          Am7         E             Am7
Sing me to sleep, I'll see you in my dreams,
E          Am7     E                Am7
waiting to say, "I miss you. I'm so sorry."
Forever's never seemed so long as when you're not around
E                A
it's like a piece of me is missing.
E            A                        E              A
I could have learned so much from you but what's left now?
Gb                                      Ab        A
Don't you realize you shot this family a world of pain?
Gb                                          Ab            A
Can't you see there should have been a happy ending we let go?
Em7        Am7
Sing me to sleep.
Em7        Am7 -hold-
Sing me to s...
E           A
Sing me to sleep -You've taken so much with you...-
E             A
I'll see you in my dreams, -But left the worst with me...-,
E          A       E                A
E  A  E  A -hold-
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
https://ukutabs.com/a/all-time-low/lullabies/
All Time Low is an American pop punk band formed in Baltimore, Maryland, United States in 2003 when Alex Gaskarth (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards) was in middle school, he was taken out of private school to public school, where he met Jack Barakat (lead guitar, backing vocals), his best friend, and put the band together and later recruited Rian Dawson (drums, percussion), and Zack Merrick (bass guitar, backing vocals). The band's name came from a line in the song Head On Collision by the band New Found Glory.
All songs by All Time Low


Sinabi mo. I think it'd be boring too without change. Mother Earth even changes its season :) May it be better or worse, things change. That's how learn to live and survive.
hi juls! i really had a good laugh on that post of yours. wish you could do it on a regular basis, MONDAY FUNNIES sounds like a good title. something that we your readers can look forward to every monday. anyway, this post reminds me of how "change" can affect people's lives for the good and the bad. and the year is fast coming to a close. time for reflection again on the year that was. hoping we, in our own little way, can effect change for the betterment of those that we hold dear to our hearts and to the people around us. salamat kaibigan at palaging makabuluhan ang pagdalaw ko dito. ciao!
Love this song too. Heard it on hubby's ipod by the way.. Yeah, we all do change in so many ways. Part ng life eh. Like it or not, he,he.
elow! heard your new couch arrived, congrats! I just love couches, I'm a couch potato hehehe.
Anyway nice song! I wonder how this song if my most fave singer would sing this hehehe. Guess who my favorite singer is hehehe.
The singer I remember with the word change is Jose Marie Chan and his song Constant Change. Love that song!


text:
Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood is the fifth sequel to the original cult classic that first featured Jennifer Aniston in a leading role. To reprise the terror he already inflicted on the ghetto's of America, the leprechaun goes "back 2 da hood" aimed with the sole challenge of inwardly killing more of the lower class black society. For an urban horror film, this one doesn't hit the spot as opposed to its direct predecessor with such stars as Ice T and Coolio, which in turn makes it a true to life urban horror film and not one that just exploits black unknowns they may have picked up off "tha street".
Despite turning the Leprechaun into a mere shadow of the running gag that he was, the film maintains its own eccentric humor throughout the running time and manages to provide ample entertainment for such a disgusting film. Whether the Leprechaun is hitting on them bootylicious black babes or smoking some of that fine ganja, his adventure will always be wanted time and time again, In fact - I couldn't seem to grow weary of these miscellaneous sequels. It's very profitable towards the film industry machine to create these sequels that surprisingly have a remnant of a replay value.
Warwick Davis returns in his titular role of a smaller stature aimed with protecting "his preciouses". Throughout this film, you will be host to a cruel experiment designed with degrading blacks worse than any previous installment of cinema might have (I still haven't watched Hood Angelz). In Back 2 Tha Hood, even the protagonists are whiny little shits that don't care about education, economy (In a falsified scene, they pretend, but as quick as that subplot was there, it's gone), or the benefit of mankind. If the white race ever intended to create a propaganda video glorifying the master race, this would surely work its charm, and that's all the film really has.
The film has worked its Irish magic well as it has turned the black society into the laughing stock of the internet. In Mobile, Alabama in 2006, many "urban thugz" claimed to have seen a Leprechaun in a tree alerting news vehicles to find a circus of sorts. The only problem is that if you gaze in the Leprechaun's direction, it vanishes. What a double negative. After this video hit the video sharing sites, it exploded into one of the more popular meme's around, creating shirts, buttons, and many Cafepress stores where you can get the iconic idiot's face plastered on any daily product.
And I quote an iMDB forum post.
"wtf the reason they end up bad is because a caucasian production team takes over and cn't actually capture the OUR culture how it shud be !!! so dn't get it twisted! and all the slang is just a stereotype on all US carribean/african heritage's"
Sure, the easy way out of the hole they dug was to market Leprechaun 6 as a "black comedy". While I'll give it the benefit of a doubt, there are surprisingly several funny scenes. The problem is that I can count them on my fingers. Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood is another cash cow for the DTV industry. It was cleverly marketed towards people who cannot define an exquisite taste of horror films or cinema in general. Some brainless horror fan might try to spark a debate by screaming how this film is "so bad it's good" but my best advice is to coldly ignore said person/s. This is nothing but a degenerative piece on black culture. Or lack there of, seeing as how director Steven Ayromlooi thinks so little of them.
Stokes said...
I can't tell if those people on the broadcast were real or not. That was so ridiculous.


text:
/** \file stlsoft/meta/typefixer/typefixer.hpp
 *
 * \brief [C++ only] Root header file for the typefixers
 *   (\ref group__library__meta "Template Meta-programming" Library).
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#ifndef STLSOFT_INCL_STLSOFT_META_TYPEFIXER_HPP_TYPEFIXER
#define STLSOFT_INCL_STLSOFT_META_TYPEFIXER_HPP_TYPEFIXER

#ifndef STLSOFT_DOCUMENTATION_SKIP_SECTION
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# define STLSOFT_VER_STLSOFT_META_TYPEFIXER_HPP_TYPEFIXER_MINOR     0
# define STLSOFT_VER_STLSOFT_META_TYPEFIXER_HPP_TYPEFIXER_REVISION  1
# define STLSOFT_VER_STLSOFT_META_TYPEFIXER_HPP_TYPEFIXER_EDIT      14
#endif /* !STLSOFT_DOCUMENTATION_SKIP_SECTION */

/* /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
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[<[STLSOFT-AUTO:NO-UNITTEST]>]
[Incompatibilies-start]
STLSOFT_COMPILER_IS_MSVC: _MSC_VER < 1310
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*/

/* /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
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#ifndef STLSOFT_INCL_STLSOFT_H_STLSOFT
# include <stlsoft/stlsoft.h>
#endif /* !STLSOFT_INCL_STLSOFT_H_STLSOFT */

#ifndef STLSOFT_CF_TEMPLATE_PARTIAL_SPECIALISATION_SUPPORT
# error stlsoft/typefixer.hpp is only compatible with compilers that support partial template specialisation
#endif /* !STLSOFT_CF_TEMPLATE_PARTIAL_SPECIALISATION_SUPPORT */

/* /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
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#ifndef _STLSOFT_NO_NAMESPACE
namespace stlsoft
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namespace typefixer
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/* /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
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#ifndef _STLSOFT_NO_NAMESPACE
# define stlsoft_typefixer_ns_qual(x)          ::stlsoft::typefixer::x
# define stlsoft_typefixer_ns_using(x)         using ::stlsoft::typefixer::x;
#else /* ? _STLSOFT_NO_NAMESPACE */
# define stlsoft_typefixer_ns_qual(x)          x
# define stlsoft_typefixer_ns_using(x)
#endif /* !_STLSOFT_NO_NAMESPACE */

/* ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// */

#ifndef _STLSOFT_NO_NAMESPACE
} // namespace typefixer

} // namespace stlsoft
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
using Prism.Logging;
using Prism.Navigation;
using Xamarin.Forms;

namespace Prism
{
    public abstract class Bootstrapper
    {
        protected Application App { get; set; }

        public INavigationService NavigationService { get; set; }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the <see cref="ILoggerFacade"/> for the application.
        /// </summary>
        /// <value>A <see cref="ILoggerFacade"/> instance.</value>
        protected ILoggerFacade Logger { get; set; }

        /// <summary>
        /// Runs the bootstrapper process.
        /// </summary>
        public void Run(Application app)
        {
            App = app;
            ConfigureViewModelLocator();
            Run();
        }

        public abstract void Run();

        /// <summary>
        /// Create the <see cref="ILoggerFacade" /> used by the bootstrapper.
        /// </summary>
        /// <remarks>
        /// The base implementation returns a new TextLogger.
        /// </remarks>
        protected virtual ILoggerFacade CreateLogger()
        {
            return new DebugLogger();
        }

        protected abstract Page CreateMainPage();

        protected abstract void ConfigureViewModelLocator();

        /// <summary>
        /// Configures the LocatorProvider for the <see cref="Microsoft.Practices.ServiceLocation.ServiceLocator" />.
        /// </summary>
        protected abstract void ConfigureServiceLocator();

        protected abstract void RegisterTypes();
    }
}